Interview with Author Helen R. Davis
To begin, can you please tell us a little about yourself?I live the United States. I have traveled to Spain, Argentina, France, Israel, Canada, and Argentina. I am very interested in history.
You've written about Eva Peron, Anne Boleyn, and Cleopatra. What inspired you to write about these particular women in history?
With Cleopatra, I always sensed a kindred spirit. She was very intellectual and the far-reaching consequences of her defeat made for a fascinating wondering about what if she had won, which was the genesis for this series. Eva Peron was a teenage fascination that culminated in a novel and a research trip to Argentina. Anne Boleyn was more of a request from fans than an inspiration, but I always feel she was unfairly treated, especially in recent historical fiction
Did you find anything in while researching your novels that challenged your perception of Anne, Eva, or Cleopatra?
With Eva, I admired her more until I went down to Argentina and saw the long term economic consequences of her husband's politics on that nation. She was still an amazing woman, but unfortunately, her good intentions did not outweigh the devastating consequences not just for Argentina but most of Latin America. With Anne Boleyn, I was somewhat always in her camp, so I was surprised to hear how many people still hated her, almost as though the war between her and Katharine of Aragon was still going on today. As such, I was reluctant to take her on, even in an alternate history setting, since so many people's minds were made up that she was a bad woman who deserved her fate for toppling a saint. Thus, I was pleasantly surprised to hear of Anne's religious convictions and her charity giving. I also learned during my research that she did not want to be queen, and had no initial interest in Henry VIII at all. As for Cleopatra, I studied her in biographies before I saw any movies, so it was more than the movies brought to life a fascinating story than the biographies or research I read surprised me. It was more when others spoke to me about the research I had done that they did not realize Cleopatra was so intelligent.
What is your favorite part of the writing process? What do you find the most difficult?
Writing is actually easy for me, so a better answer is which project was the most difficult. The answer was Evita. Except for Evita's trip to Paris, I hated every second of writing Evita: My Argentina.
What advice do you have for aspiring authors?
Don't give up. Expect rejections and bad reviews, but continue to market and sell your work.
If you could read any book again for the first time, what would it be and why?
The research I have done on Cleopatra.
Have you always wanted to be a writer? Did you always want to write historical fiction?
I have not always wanted to be a writer, no. I wanted to be an astronaut when I was younger. It was after I did a senior research paper on Cleopatra that my English teacher suggested my talents were best suited elsewhere. I did not always want to write historical fiction, but with my love of history and imagination, I supposed it was only a matter of time before I delved into alternate history.
What authors have inspired you?
Jean Plaidy, Susan Kay, Maurice Druon, CS Lewis, Philippa Gregory, Elena Maria Vidal, Michelle Moran, and many others.
Lastly, what can readers expect next from you?
A joint project with my co-author, Carolina Casas, called ISABELLA UNASHAMED which is about Queen Isabella I of Castile. It is available now on Amazon!
Cleopatra Unconquered by Helen R. Davis
Publication Date: December 2, 2015
Savant Books & Publications LLC
eBook & Paperback; 328 Pages
Genre: Alternative Historical Fiction
The first book of three in a richly imagined ancient world where the course of history is altered by one battle. In this world, Antony and Cleopatra triumph at the Battle of Actium, and Cleopatra emerges as a queen, stateswoman, and politician. Those around her come to life as the reader returns to those days to live them with her.
"The first in a series, Cleopatra Unconquered by Helen R. Davis is a treat for those fascinated by Egypt and the lost glories of antiquity. The author weaves the fruits of her careful research into a fascinating combination of both the historical fiction and fantasy genres. It gives readers a look into history as it was, as well as into what might have been." - Elena Marie Vidal, author of The Paradise Tree
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Evita...My Argentina by Helen R. Davis
Publication Date: February 10, 2017
Custom Book Publications
eBook & Paperback; 228 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction/Biographical
EVITA … My Argentina
Evita Perón tells her own spectacular story.
Tracing her life back to her humble beginnings, when she is abandoned by her father, Evita takes the reader on her journey to become an actress and later, to the pivotal moment when she meets Colonel Juan Perón. Never content to stay in her husband’s shadow, Evita reveals how she shares his belief that Peronism will help the working class. Eventually she begins doing work on her own as the president of the Society of Benevolence, helping the poor and winning the peoples’ trust.
As the times change and women get the vote, Evita becomes even more powerful, running the Ministries of Labor and Health, starting a foundation, and organizing the first female party, The Female Peronist Party.
A larger-than-life story, told in her own fictional words, the powerful novel is as educational as it is entertaining.
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The Most Happy by Helen R. Davis
Publication Date: July 25, 2017
Callipe Editorial
Genre: Alternative Historical Fiction
Anne Boleyn is known throughout the world as the beheaded wife of King Henry VIII, a woman for whom Henry discarded a Spanish princess and who was later discarded for the woman who gave Henry his longed-for son. Love her or hate her, it cannot be denied her romance with Henry VIII changed the course of English and European, and perhaps World History, forever.
This is a novel that imagines Anne Boleyn giving Henry a son and taking the reins of power as Regent of England when Henry VIII perishes in a jousting accident.
Told in the voice of the infamous Anne Boleyn, we are treated to the 16th century world that has recently become famous through programs such as The Tudors. We meet Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII, and many of the personalities of the mid-16th century albeit in an altered setting.
How would this era and time, a pivotal one in Western Civilization, have changed if one of the movers and shakers of the period, Anne Boleyn, had not been struck down in her prime by the man who once adored her?
Amazon
About the Author
Helen R. Davis is an American author. Her first novel, Evita: My Argentina was previously published as Evita: My Life and republished with Custom Book Publications in Hong Kong. Her second novel, CLEOPATRA UNCONQUERED, which is the first in a series, imagines a world in which Antony and Cleopatra, rather than Augustus Caesar, are the victors of the Battle of Actium. the sequel, CLEOPATRA VICTORIOUS, will be released soon, followed by the titles CLEOPATRA MAGNIFICA and CLEOPATRA TRIUMPHANT. Her third novel, or at least, her third historical novel/alternate history, THE MOST HAPPY, will be published with Callipe Editorial, based out of Madrid Spain, on July 25th, 2017.For more information, please visit Helen Davis' website. You can also connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.
Blog Tour Schedule
Monday, September 25Interview at Passages to the Past
Tuesday, September 26
Review at History From a Woman's Perspective (The Most Happy)
Wednesday, September 27
Review at A Bookish Affair
Guest Post at A Holland Reads
Thursday, September 28
Review at Pursuing Stacie (Cleopatra Unconquered)
Friday, September 29
Review at A Chick Who Reads (Evita)
Review at 100 Pages a Day (The Most Happy)
Monday, October 2
Review at Must Read Faster (The Most Happy)
Tuesday, October 3
Review at Book Nerd (Evita)
Wednesday, October 4
Review at Tudor Enthusiast (The Most Happy)
Thursday, October 5
Review at Faery Tales Are Real (The Most Happy)
Friday, October 6
Review at Pursuing Stacie (The Most Happy)
Giveaway
During the Blog Tour we will be giving away eBooks of Cleopatra Unconquered & Evita...My Argentina & a paperback of The Most Happy! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below.Giveaway Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on October 6th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to residents in the US only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.
Helen R. Davis
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